America's veterans fought to protect our country. They deserve every support we can offer to them and their families. That means streamlining the benefits process, ensuring that the VA health care system is delivering services in a timely and efficient way, and helping our returning veterans secure gainful employment.
Congressman Sarbanes was the original sponsor of the BRAVE Act (Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act), which spurred federal officials to overhaul the review process so that veterans who receive a 100% service-connected disability rating from the Veterans Administration can secure their Social Security benefits on an expedited basis. He also helped establish the Veterans Service Corps as part of Americorps to enlist veterans in service to fellow veterans and military families as well as to the broader community. In 2015, Congressman Sarbanes participated in the first-in-the-nation ceremony awarding a VetCorps pin to veterans who are lifting up their communities everyday.
Congressman Sarbanes has also supported numerous initiatives to improve and expand veterans’ access to the high-quality, comprehensive health care services they deserve. He has voted for legislation to provide eligible veterans automatic enrollment in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care programs and increase support for mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services. Congressman Sarbanes was also proud to vote for the Honoring Our Promise to Address Toxics (Honoring Our PACT) Act, comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to extend VA health benefits to more than 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to toxics during their military service.